Paster for machine made cigars



Dec. 27, 1966 5.1-. GUSTAVSON FASTER FOR MACHINE MADE CIGARS 3Sheets-$heet 1 Original Filed Aug. 1, 1961 FIG.|

BY M w ATTORNEY Dec. 27, 1966 s. T. GUSTAVSON 3,294,097

I FASTER FOR MACHINE MADE CIGARS Original Filed Aug. 1, 1961 3Sheets-Sheet 2 //0 1 112 708 me A! l l H INVENTOR STERUNG T. GUSTAVSONBY WAGM ATTORNEY Dec. 27, 1966 I s. T. GUSTAVSON 3,294,097

FASTER FOR MACHINE MADE CIGARS Original Filed Aug. 1, 1961 5Sheets-Sheet 5 A II 5.05" A k I INVENTOR STERLING T. GUSTAVSON ATTORNEYUnited States Patent,

3,294,097 PASTER FOR MACHINE MADE CIGARS Sterling T. Gustavson,Rosedale, N.Y., assignor to American Machine & Foundry Company, acorporation of New Jersey Original application Aug. 1, 1961, Ser. No.128,580, now Patent No. 3,187,756, dated June 8, 1965. Divided and thisapplication Sept. 28, 1964, Ser. No. 399,918 1 Claim. (Cl. 13l1tl5) Thisapplication is a division of application S.N. 128,580 filed August 1,1961, now Patent No. 3,187,756, and claim is hereby made to all of theequitable and legal benefits derivable therefrom.

This invention is an improved cigar machine.

An object of the invention is the improvement of cigar manufacturingmachines.

One of the problems encountered in making cigars is how to securely fixa tobacco cigar binder to the rolled tobacco filler, to form a rigidcigar bunch structure, from which the tobacco binder will not unravel,and how to afiix a tobacco cigar wrapper to a cigar bunch, to form arigid cigar structure from which the wrapper will not unravel.

As is well known in the cigar industry, although machines of individualtypes are employed for the two operations, tobacco binders are appliedto filler and tobacco wrappers are applied to bunches in a spiralrolling operation. A long relatively narrow tobacco strip or leaf iscoiled spirally around the compacted filler cylinder to form the bunch.Later another tobacco strip or leaf is coiled spirally around the bunchto form the cigar. The rolling starts at one end and progresses at auniform spiral pitch toward the other end until the filler or the bunchis completely enveloped in the tobacco binder or wrapper.

As rolling proceeds in each operation, the rear edge of each convolutionof the spiral tobacco coil is superposed over the front edge of the lastsucceeding convolution, with the objective of preventing unwinding. Withsuch an arrangement it is theoretically possible to hold all of thebinder in position tightly coiled around the filler in a bunch, and allof the wrapper tightly coiled around the bunch, by applying paste to asmall area of the end of the final convolution of the binder and wrapperrespectively. However, as is generally well known, in subsequentlysmoking or otherwise handling of cigars, the head ends of the binder andwrapper at times become loosened and tend to unravel. It is true thatpercentage wise this occurrence is infrequent. However, the happening,however infrequent, tends to affect the attitude of the smoker towardthe product, which is an important consideration in merchandising anyproduct, including cigars, particularly when sold under a brand name.

In order to reduce the incidence of unravelling, new methods of pastingbinders and wrappers have been recently introduced in the industry to alimited extent, particularly in the machine manufacture of cigars. Oneof these methods involves the application of paste to an entire surfacearea on the single enveloping tobacco element of a machine made Toscanicigar. In machine manufacture of such a cigar, paste is applied over thewhole area of the inner surface of the tobacco strip or leaf which formsthe cigar envelope. As such a cigar is rolled, not only are the adjacentsuperposed edges of the spiral convolution pasted together but theenvelope is pasted directly to the underlying filler. Q

In the present arrangement, paste is applied by a mechanism along oneentire edge and to the head end of a tobacco strip or leaf which hasbeen shaped to form a binder or a wrapper of a cigar. As the binderwrapper.

"ice

or wrapper is thereafter rolled into a cigar bunch, or into the cigar,the superposed adjacent edges of the coiled convolution of the binder orwrapper are pasted one to another.

A feature of the invention is a cigar wrapper or binder having pasteapplied to one entire longitudinal edge thereof.

Another feature of the invention is an improved paster mechanism in acigar machine for applying paste to an entire longitudinal edge of awrapper or binder.

It is important that the paste be deposited evenly over the desired areaof the pasted edge. It is desirable also that any excess paste beremoved from the binder or wrapper. It is further desirable that theremoved paste be prevented from accumulating on any device which may beemployed in the wiping operation.

In the present disclosure, the invention is embodied in a paste wipingmechanism for use With the tobacco It is to be understood, however, thatthe invention contemplates corresponding application to a tobaccobinder.

In the present invention, paste is applied to one entire longitudinaledge of a cigar tobacco wrapper, while the wrapper is being transferredfrom a cutting die, where it has been shaped to the desired contour toserve as a cigar wrapper, to a position over the cigar wrapper rollermechanism. During the transfer operation, the wrapper carrier, or thetransfer mechanism, as it is at times called, dwells momentarily over apaste container. During the dwell interval, a long narrow blunt bladehaving a contour corresponding to one edge of the wrapper andterminating in a closed loop conforming to the head end of the wrapper,is reciprocated from the paste container to engage a wrapper edge andits head end and to apply paste thereto. The transfer mechanism carryingthe wrapper then proceeds to a position over the cigar wrapper rollermechanism, where it again dwells while the leading end of the wrapper isdrawn oil. the transfer mechanism by the tuck needle, in an operationwell known in the art, and applied to the tuck end of a cigar bunch. Thewrapper rolling mechanism revolves rotating the bunch with the wrapperadherent thereto and coils the wrapper spirally about the bunch untilthe hunch is completely enveloped by the wrapper. As the wrapper isbeing peeled olf the wrapper carrier, it is drawn over the tensioningplate, causing the paste to spread evenly on the edge of the wrapper.This removes any excess paste from the wrapper and serves as the firstpaste wiper. The excess paste which is removed by the tension plateduring one cycle of operation remains thereon until the next succeedingcycle. After the entire wrapper has been peeled off the wrapper carrier,the wrapper carrier continues in a closed path, to its starting positionover the wrapper die cutter where it again dwells to pick up anotherwrapper. The wrapper moves at such an angle relative to the tensionplate that it never comes in contact with any portion of the plate fromwhich the paste from the last preceding cycle has not been removed.

If no paste wiping mechanism were provided, paste would tend toaccumulate on the tension .plate. The present invention providesmechanism for removing the accumulation of paste on this plate andrestoring it to the paste container. This is performed by means of asecond and a third wiping element. The operation takes place in twosteps. The paste which is wiped from the tension plate by the secondwiping element is later removed from the second wiping element by athird wiping element. How this is performed will now be described.

The second wiping element is ailixed to the leading edges of the wrappercarrier and the second wiping element functions as the wrapper carrierpasses over the tension plate. It is so disposed that it engages thetension and first wiper plate before the pasted edge of the wrappercomes in contact therewith and it wipes the tension plate clean of anypaste accumulated thereon from the previous cycle of operation. Thewiped paste remains on the second wiping mechanism, on the wrappercarrier, during the interval while the wrapper carrier 'moves from itsposition over the wrapper roller mechanism and while the wrapper carrierdwells over the wrapper suction head associated with the wrapper cuttingdie to pick up the cigar wrapper for the succeeding .wr-apper rollingoperation and thereafter until the wrapper carrier moves over the pastecontainer. The paste is removed from the second paste wiper as thewrapper carrier passes over a third paste wiper which is securedto thepaste container. As the wrapper carrier is swinging into position todwell over the paste container so that paste may be applied to an edgeand the head end of the cigar wrapper, the sec-nd paste wiper, carriedby the wrapper carrier, comes into engagement with the third pastewiping device and the excess paste is wiped from the second paste wiperby the third paste wiper at the leading edges of the paste container.The removed paste drops into the paste container. Attention is called tothe fact that, in the method of operation described in the foregoing,the first wiping operation performed on the tension plate by the secondwiping mechanism, during the first cycle of operation, and the firstwiping operation performed on the second wiping mechanism by the thirdwiping mechanism, during the first cycle of operation, are both withoutavail. The reason for this is that no paste has accumulated on thetension and wiping plate, during the first cycle of operation, beforethe tension plate is traversed by the second wiping mechanism. The sameis true in the case of the engagement of the second and third wipingmechanisms during the first cycle of operation. That is to stay, therewill be no paste on the second paste wiper when it engages the thirdpaste wiper during the first cycle of operation. On every succeedingcycle of operation, however, the second wiper will remove the pasteaccumulated on the tension and wiping plate during the previous cycleand the third wiper will thereafter remove the paste from the secondwiper.

The invention may be understood from the following detailed descriptionwhen read with reference to the associated drawings which taken togetherdisclose a preferred embodiment in which the invention is presentlyincorporated. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is notlimited to the incorporation in the present embodiment, and may bepracticed in other forms which may be suggested to those skilled in theart by a consideration of the following:

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a plan view, partly in section, of the wrapper die suctionhead, the transfer or wrapper carrier, the paster, the paste removersand the wrapper roller mechanism, including the tension plate and pastewiper and indicates, in phantom, five positions, positions I, II, III,IV and V, through which the transfer passes in a cycle of operation;

FIG. 2 is a partial left-hand view of the transfer or wrapper carrier,in position II, and the paster mechanism, partly in section, shown apaste wiper, carried by the transfer, engaging a wiper aflixed to thepaste container;

FIG. 3 shows the transfer mechanism, partly broken away, in positionover the wrapper roller mechanism, shown partly in section, and shows acigar wrapper being drawn over the tension plate. This figure shows thetransfer midway between position IV, at the start of the wrapper rollingoperation, and position V, near the end of the wrapper rollingoperation.

FIG. 4 shows a bottom view of a new design of wrapper carrier with awiper affixed thereto, for wiping the tension plate on the wrapperroller mechanism;

FIG. 5 is a front view of FIG. 4, taken on line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view of the wrapper carrier of FIG. 4taken on line 66 of FIG 4; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the wrapper carrier from top to bottomtaken on line 77 in FIG. 4, showing one of the suction channels, havinga single central aperture, with the cigar wrapper .afiixed to the bottomof the channel. It shows also a new conformation of the longitudinaledge of the carrier bottom, the wrapper roller tension plate and, inphantom, a cigar bunch with the cigar wrapper being peeled off thesuction head and rolled helically about the cigar bunch.

The present invention comprises structure which has been applied tocigar machines well known in the art, and disclosed in the followingpatents, which are hereby incorporated by reference, to which patentsthe reader is referred, should an understanding be desired of the cigarwrapper carrier, the cigar wrapper rolling device, the wrapper carrierlocking mechanism and the tuck needle constuction for the cigar wrapperroller mechanism, in their relation to the pasting and wiping mechanismsof the present invention:

Patent 2,568,067 granted to V. G. Hanson, September 18, 1951 disclosesthe wrapper transfer or wrapper carrier mechanism;

Patent 2,675,810 granted to H. H. Wheeler, April 20, 1954 discloses thebunch wrapping device by which the cigar wrapper is applied to a cigarbunch;

Patent 2,376,355 granted to I. F. Halstead, May 22, 1945 discloses thetransfer locking mechanism; and

Patent 2,281,095 granted to S. Clausen, April 28, 1942 discloses thewrapper roller tuck needle construction.

The invention will first be described generally as an aid inunderstanding the detailed description following thereafter.

Refer now to FIG. 1 which shows a portion of a cigar wrapper transfer Toverlying a cigar wrapper cutting die mechanism D, a paste mechanism P,and a cigar wrapper roller mechanism WR. The representation of thetransfer mechanism T, as shown in FIG. 1, is a portion of a horizontalsection shown in FIG. 4 of Patent 2,568,067. The complete structure ofthe transfer mechanism, including the means by which the required uniquemotion is imparted thereto, is shown in Patent 2,568,067. Therepresentation of the cigar wrapper roller WR, as shown in FIG. 1, is aportion of the plan view of the wrapper roller mechanism shown in FIG. 2of Patent 2,675,810. The complete structure and mode of operation of theWrapper roller mechanism is disclosed in that patent.

In FIG. 1, the wrapper transfer or Wrapper carrier device T is shown inposition overlying the wrapper cutter die D. This is the station atwhich the tobacco leaf, or strip, is cut to the proper shape and size toserve as a wrapper for enveloping the tobacco binder in the bunchwrapper WR and serves as a continuous source of supply of the wrappers.The transfer T dwells in its position overlying the wrapper cutting dieD while transfer of the cut wrapper to the transfer, or carrier, T iseffected. After the wrapper is cut by the die, the transfer device Ttransfers it to the wrapper roller device WR by way of the paster P,where paste is applied to one longitudinal edge and the head end of thewrapper while the transfer dwells over the paster. The cam mechanismwhich controls the motion of the transfer is provided with threeeccentricities which effect three dwells of the transfer, that is tosay, which arrest the motion of the transfer, as it attains positions inwhich it must be momentarily stopped. These positions are: (1) over thewrapper cutting die D, while transfer of the wrapper from the die to thesuction head on the transfer is effected; (2) over the paster P, whilepaste is applied to the wrapper; and (3) with the leading edge of thetransfer T over the left-hand end of the wrapper roller WR, as seen inFIG. 1, while the tuck needle K is inserted in a slot near the head endof the transfer suction head, to peel the tuck end of the cigar wrapperoff the leading end of the suction head, and to apply it to the rotatingcigar bunch, at the start of the wrapper rolling operation. To providean interval during which paste may be applied to the wrapper, it isnecessary to incorporate another eccentricity in the cam arrangementdisclosed in Patent 2,376,355 to cause the transfer to dwell also overthe paster. Except for these momentary interruptions of the motion overthe wrapper cutting die, over the paster, and over the wrapper roller,of approximately two-tenths of a second duration each, the motion of thetransfer T is continuous.

After receiving the paste, the transfer T moves to a position over thecigar roller wrapper WR, where the wrapper is peeled off the transferhead and is rolled helically onto the cigar bunch. Then the transfer Tis returned to its initial position over the wrapper die D.

The transfer mechanism T follows a closed path in travelling from thedie D, by way of the paster P, to the wrapper roller WR, and back to itsstarting position overlying the die D. For convenience in description,the five positions in the closed path of the transfer T are indicated bythe Roman numerals I, II, III, IV and V in FIG. 1.

The transfer head with its attached wiper WA is shown in plan overlyingthe die D in position I. The other positions assumed by the transferhead and wiper WA, as the transfer T moves through a cycle of operation,are indicated, in phantom, by the numerals II, HI, IV and V.

At the start of a cycle of operation, in position I, the tobacco leaf orstrip is held in position on the die by suction while the wrapper is cuttherefrom. Immediately thereafter, suction is removed from the die andapplied to the transfer head on transfer T. This lifts the wrapper fromthe die and secures it to the transfer head and transfer then begins.The transfer head carrying the wrapper is next shown in position II. Inposition II, the leading end of the wiper WA, which is secured to theforward righthand end and the left-hand edge of the transfer head, asshown in position II in FIG. 1, is engaging wiper WB, which is affixedto the paste container, as shown in FIG. 1. As the transfer T continuesits movement into position III, over the paste container P, the wiper WAis wiped clean, by wiper WB, of the paste'which wiper WA removed fromthe tension plate TP during the last preceding cycle of operation. Inposition III, the paste applicator PAP is reciprocated from a positionin paster P, to apply paste to the lower longitudinal edge and left-handend portion of the wrapper on the transfer T, as shown in FIG. 1, whilethe transfer T dwells over the paster. In position IV, the transfersuction head is shown at the start of the wrapper roller operation. Hereit dwells momentarily, as mentioned.

Before the transfer reaches this position, the paste, which wasaccumulated on the tension plate TP during the last preceding cycle ofoperation, was wiped from the lefthand portion of the tension plate bythe wiper WA as the leading end of the transfer head moves into positionover the left-hand end of the wrapper roller mechanism WR, prior to thedwell. When motion resumes, the wiper WA, secured to the suction headcarried by the transfer T, continues its sweep over the remainder of thearea of the tension plate on which paste was accumulated during the lastpreceding cycle of operation. In this wiping operation, as seen in FIG.1, the transfer suction head, carrying the wiper WA, moves downward andfrom left to right, sweeping across the tension plate TP from left toright and wiping excess paste therefrom. While this is occurring, thecigar wrapper, with the paste adherent on one of its edges, is drawnprogressively from left to right over the area of the tension platewhich has just been wiped clean by wiper WA. As the wrapper is drawnover the tension plate, the paste which was applied to an edge of thecigar wrapper by the paste applicator PAP, is distributed more evenlyover the edge of the wrapper to which it was applied and the excesspaste is wiped from the edge of the wrapper. Heretofore, the tensionplate TP performed only the function of maintaining tension on thewrapper, as the wrapper was drawn off the transfer suction head andwrapped on the cigar bunch by the wrapper roller WR. Now it performs theadded functions, mentioned in the foregoing, of distributing paste moreevenly over the edge on which the paste was applied by the paster and ofremoving any excess paste from the wrapper edge. The excess pasteremoved remains on tension plate T P until it is wiped off by the WiperWA on the next succeeding cycle of operation. The tuck needle K appliesthe tuck end of the wrapper to the tuck end of the revolving cigarbunch, as the cigar wrapper rolling operation starts and is thenwithdrawn. As the transfer operation continues, the transfer head willtraverse the revolving cigar bunch from left to right, as seen in FIG.1, the cigar wrapper will be peeled off the transfer head and will becoiled helically about the rotating cigar bunch. Near the end of thecigar bunch rolling operation, the transfer head will have moved intoposition V and, as it continues its motion, the head end of the wrapperwill be blown off the transfer head, in a manner well known in the art,and applied to the head end of the cigar bunch. The transfer head willthen continue its motion until it regains its initial position overlyingthe wrapper cutting die D.

Refer now to FIGS. 1 and 2. The paster wiper assembly WB, which performsthe final paste wiping operation, is affixed to the upper portion of thefront side and left-hand end of the paste container as seen in FIGS. 1and 2 and projects above the upper edges of the container as indicatedin FIG. 2. The assembly of this wiper comprises an L-shaped wipingelement 50, which may be formed of hard or semi-hard rubber, forinstance, or of any other suitable material.

The wiper element is secured to the front of the L- shaped wiperstiffening element 52, the contour of which conforms to that of wiperelement 50. Wiper 50 may be fastened to element 52 by rivets, or screws,such as 54, for instance. Wiper 50 projects slightly above stiffeningelement 52, and wiper stiffening element 52 projects substantially belowwiper 50 and is secured by screws, such as 56, which project throughelement 52 and spacing sleeves 58 into tapped holes in the walls of thepaste container P. As the transfer suction head passes over the pastecontainer P, the three wiper sections 42, 44 and 46, FIGS. 2 and 4, ofwiper WA engage the wiper element 50 of wiper WB and the paste which wasremoved from tension plate TP on the last preceding cycle of operationis removed from wiper sections 42, 44 and 46 by wiper element 50 andfinds its way back into the paste supply in paste container P.

Refer now to the paster mechanism in paste container P in FIGS. 1 and 2.The paster mechanism comprises a long pasting plate 60 which is shapedalong its length to conform to the lower edge of the wrapper as seen inFIG. 1. The edge of the wrapper to which paste is applied is the edgewhich overlies an adjacent edge of the wrapper, as the wrapper is coiledspirally around the cigar bunch during the wrapper rolling operation.The left-hand end of the pasting plate 60, as seen in FIG. 1, is bentinto a closed loop 66, to conform to the contour of the head end of thecut wrapper. A short length of the pasting plate preferably is bent intoanother smaller loop 68 and inserted within loop 66. The two loops arethan secured, one to another, and to the bent rod 70, in any suitablemanner, such as by soldering, welding or riveting. The left-hand end ofrod 70, as seen in FIG. 2, projects above the paste container P andthrough an aperture of a hub 72, FIG. 1, in the free end of arm 74. Theleft-hand end of arm 74, as seen in FIG. 1, has a hub 84, which isprovided with an axial boring through which the vertical reciprocablerod 76 projects and to which it is secured by means of a screw 78.Integral with hub 84 and arm 74 is another arm 80, projecting verticallythrough the right-hand end of which, as seen in FIG. 1, is an adjustablestop screw 82, the lower end of which abuts a flange 86 at the top ofthe paste container. The upper and lower limits of movement of the pasteapplicator may be adjusted as necessary by screws 78 and 82,respectively.

The vertical bar 76 is secured in hubs 90, 92 at the ends of arms 94,96, respectively, of a yoke having a hub 98 secured to a shaft 100,pinned by pins, such as 102, in a hub 104. The vertical shaft 76 abuts ahorizontal bar 106 having a hub 108 secured to shaft 110 by means of pin112. Shaft 110 connects through elements to a cam, not shown, mounted onthe main shaft of the cigar machine which imparts vertical reciprocatingmotion to shaft 110, bar 106, shaft 76, bar 70 and paster 60.

FIG. 3 shows the transfer T in position overlying the cigar wrapperroller WR. The wrapper roller is seen end-wise and from the right withreference to FIG. 1. The tobacco wrapper W, FIG. 3, is being drawn offthe transfer suction head, over the left-hand end of tension plate TPand is being coiled about the cigar bunch CB, which is being rolled in acounter clockwise direction, as seen in FIG. 3, to peel the tobaccocigar wrapped W 011 the suction head. In order to facilitateexplanation, a portion of wiper section 46 is broken away to show thecigar tobacco wrapper W being drawn over the tension plate. It should beexplained, with reference to FIG. 3, that the tobacco wrapper W isnarrow as compared to the length of the cigar and with relation to thelength of the tension plate TP, and only a relatively short portion ofthe length of the tension plate is engaged by the tobacco wrapper at anytime. Further, only a very short length of the wiping elements 42, 44and 46 engages the tension plate TP at any instant. With reference toFIG. 3, the motion of the transfer T is forward, that is toward theviewer, and to the left. Wiper section 42 is behind the plane of thedrawing in FIG. 3. The momentarily active segments, of the lengths ofwiping elements 42, 44 and 46, come into engagement with their opposedcoacting segments of the length of the tension plate TP, in advance ofthe engagement of the pasted edge of the tobacco wrapper W therewith. Asseen in FIG. 3, wiper sections 42 and 44 and the lefthand half,approximately, of wiper section 46 have already swept over theircoacting lengths of the tension plate, and as the transfer T continuesits motion, the right-hand half of wiper section 46 will complete thewiping of the tension plate. While this wiping operation is proceeding,and immediately behind the wiped portion of the tension plate, paste isbeing again deposited thereon, as the tobacco wrapper W with its pastededge is being drawn thereover.

In the present invention, the bottom of the suction head on the transferis arranged to prevent paste from being drawn into the suction holestherein and clogging them, which would interfere with proper rolling ofthe wrapper. Reference to FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7 and the following willexplain how this is achieved.

The paste is applied along the lower edge and righthand loop, or headend of the wrapper after a wrapper has been applied to the bottom of thetransfer shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 7 which shows a cross section along line7-7 of FIG. 4 indicates that a notch is provided in the enclosing wall126. The notch is formed by extending wall portion 121 perpendicular tothe bottom surface and then to outwardly extending wall portion 120 soas to cut away along the lower edge of the carrier suction head thenotch as seen in FIG. 4. Channels such as 122 are formed in the lowersurface of the suction head. One aperture only, such as 124, at thecenter of each of these channels, communicates with the suction system.This construction maintains the suction system free of clogging. Asthese suction heads were formerly constructed, there were no channels intheir lower surfaces. The entire surface of the suction head to whichthe tobacco wrapper adhered was perforated with a large number 8 ofsuction holes. Further the lower edge of the wall 126 of the suctionhead FIG. 7 was flush with the bottom surface of the suction head. Whenthe wrapper was peeled off the head, a vacuum was formed beneath thehead and a strong draft of air swept under the suction head with acertain amount of paste entrained therein. This paste tended to clog upthe suction apertures, as a result of which the tobacco wrapper Was notspread evenly over the suction head and tended to be peeled off the headand to be wrapped on the bunch unevenly.

With the suction head arranged as shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, with its largenotched strip and the channels 122, each with a single aperture, such as124, positioned centrally in each channel 122, it has been found thatclogging of the apertures with paste is prevented, and the rolling ofthe wrapper on the hunch is improved.

FIG. 6 shows a section taken through line 6-6 in FIG. 4 to an enlargedscale. FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the transfer suction head so, in FIG.6, the bottom surface of the suction head is at the top of the figure.FIG. 6 shows at the left a counter-sunk aperture 136 having an openingto the lower side as seen in FIG. 4, which forms part of well knownmeans for securing the suction head to the transfer T. A channel 134having a flared opening 144 is formed in the section head to receive thetuck needle K. FIG. 1. The tuck needle 'is injected into the flared end144 and passes into the channel 134 where it overlies the leading ortuck end of the tobacco wrapper and presses it down upon the cigar bunchat the start of the wrapper rolling operation. Near the left-hand end ofthe transfer head, and to the left of the tuck needle channel 134, thetransfer suction head is provided with a row of suction apertures 142each of which communicates, through a larger individual boring, such as140, with the cigar machine suction system. Suction apertures 142 holdthe tuck end of the tobacco wrapper firmly against the lower surface ofthe suction head, until it is peeled therefrom by the tuck needle andapplied to the cigar bunch at the start of the rolling of the wrapperonto the bunch, in a manner well understood in the art.

What is claimed is:

In a cigar manufacturing machine, a wrapper or binder suction transferdevice comprising an elongated carrier having enclosing side wallportions and a bottom wall, said bottom wall having a substantiallyplanar face formed with a plurality of suction channels, each having anaperture communicating with a suction system within said device, theenclosing wall portion along a lower longitudinal edge of said bottomwall extending substantially perpendicular to said face and thenoutwardly therefrom to form an elongated notch along the exterior ofsaid carrier adjacent said longitudinal edge, said planar face extendingto said perpendicular wall portion and corresponding in sizesubstantially to that of the wrapper or hinder to be transferred.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 451,737 5/1891Peck 13l8 848,666 4/ 1907 Luckett 131-105 1,645,012 10/ 1927 Kitchel etal. 131 33 1,945,037 1/ 1934 Halstead 131-37 X 1,993,661 3/1935Grandstedt 131-105 1,995,068 3/1935 Lim 131-8 2,467,172 4/ 1949 Wheeler131-105 2,568,067 9/1951 Hanson 131-105 2,939,463 6/ 1960 Grandstedt 13l35 SAMUEL KOREN, Primary Examiner.

ALDRICH F. MEDBERY, Examiner.

H. P. DEELEY, Assistant Examiner.

